Track and field Division 1 state finals highlights and winners

Noah Stallworth, of Rockford, tries to lead the pack before winning the 100-meter dash during the MHSAA Division 1 track and field finals at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

KENTWOOD, Mich. -- Despite about a total of three hours of storm delays, patience paid off for the Oak Park girls and East Kentwood boys track and field teams.

Having a whole lot of depth on their respective rosters helped too.

The East Kentwood boys won the program's eighth Division 1 state championship in 11 years, scoring 63.5 points across 10 events.

"I'm so proud of these kids," East Kentwood coach Dave Emeott said. "I can tell you this: I would go to war for these kids any day. Apparently, they will go to war for us because they did."

The Falcons won three of the events it scored in, including Stephan Bracey winning the lone individual event of the day for the Falcons with a mark of 24-feet-1.25 in the long jump. East Kentwood also took home the 4x200 and 4x400 titles in 1:27.37 and 3:18.54, respectively.

"We just chipped away," Emeott said. "I think we scored in 10 events and we just kind of picked, picked, picked, picked. I'm sure all of our opponents were like, 'hey, we're right there,' and then all of the sudden, we were like there's three more points there's two more points."

"Our dominance comes from our amazing coaches," Hie said. "They've been doing this for the longest time. They coach us hard every day ... They ask for it and we just come out and give them what they ask for. That's why everyone knows that East Kentwood High School is the best track and field high school in the state of Michigan."

Oak Park won just one event on the day but scored in nine. In fact, Oak Park was runner up in four events. However, with a one-point lead over Detroit Renaissance heading into the 4x400, the Knights clinched the program's fifth title in six years by winning the event in a new state championship-record time of 3:45.13.

"Our girls, they battled throughout the day," Oak Park coach Brandon Jiles said. "I think this is the first time I've won a meet with only winning one race. The kids showed up big time."

"First, we all have to trust in each other," Todd said. "When we got here, we just trusted each other."

Renaissance had a lead on Oak Park through the first two legs of the 4x400 but Kennard took a lead that the Knights wouldn't relinquish as Vines -- a freshman -- anchored the team to victory.

"I saw Tamyra closing the gap on the second leg and I just knew that I had to run my race and go get (Renaissance)," Kennard said. "I just had trust. I knew what Chloe was going to do."

Rockford senior Noah Stallworth (lane 5) won a photo finish to claim the 2019 MHSAA Division 1 title in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.757. He narrowly beat Westland John Glenn senior James Flournoy's time of 10.759. (Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com)

Stallworth is state's fastest man decided in photo finish

The 100-meter dash is always one of the main highlights of track and field meets and Saturday's was no exception as the boys final came down to a photo finish.

In the final, Rockford senior Noah Stallworth and Westland John Glenn senior James Flournoy were neck-and-neck crossing the finish line. All eyes went to the results board at the south end of the stadium as Stallworth's name popped up in first place with a time of 10.76. However, Flournoy's named came up second with the same time. As it turned out, Stallworth's official time was two thousandths of a second faster than Flournoy.

Stallworth's official time was 10.757 compared to Flournoy's 10.759.

"It feels good," Stallworth said. "Hard work pays off."

Stallworth had to deal with a two and-a-half hour storm delay and warmed up multiple times as the delay kept getting extended. A light rain continued into the 100 meter finals.

"Definitely not (my best start)," Stallworth said, who had a state-best time of 10.54. "It's alright, I got the win."

Stallworth was not done there as he had another excellent effort to anchor the Rockford 4x100 team to victory, making up a five-meter gap on Oak Park to overtake the lead at the line as Rockford took the title in 42.10.

The Michigan-bound talent then won the 200 meter dash in more comfortable fashion with a time 21.64, leaving no doubt who the top sprinter in the state is this season.